Accuracy: 20 m (65 ft)

Click on any of the images for the full-sized picture.

22-Jul-2005 -- This is one of the four full 10th Longitude and Latitude points of intersection that can be found in Scandinavia. Three of them are located in Norway and one in Finland and also three of them are located on the water..

These four points are even pictured on the back side of the norwegian 200 kroner bill. They can also be found on almost every globe and map of the world. This is, of course, what made this trip especially interesting for me.

The next point east, 70° N – 31° E, is located in russian territory. With my boat, I’m actually in the border area, since there is just 38.2 km to the next confluence point.

I had been on the road for a week and I was still on the E6 that ends in Kirkenes. 130 km before its end I turn onto E75 in the direction of Vadsø. About 7 km past Vadsø you cross the 30th longtitude. My GPS-device shows me the distance is 7.7 km from here to the point. This is very far out for my tiny catamaran boat. I didn’t like either the winds coming from the east or the resulting waves which I could see with my binoculars. It would be way too dangerous to risk the ride with my boat!

What I needed was something bigger. There was nobody around who could lend me a boat, so I had to drive a little further. After another 7 km there is a spit of land that goes about 1 km into the Varangerfjord.

It’s here or nowhere, I thought to myself and drove to the end of the street. The little town had a harbour, a coffee-house, a museum and an unusual restaurant called Ekkerøy. I explained my plans to the owner of the restaurant and asked him where I could rent a boat. He told me he had one available and we quickly agreed on a price.
The price included 10 liters of extra gasoline, which he quickly got in Vadsø which was 14 km away.

30 minutes later, warmly dressed, bringing a life-vest and 20 liters of gas on board, I was on my way to the easternmost confluence of my long-distance-tour.

The visibility that day was pretty good. Starting position was N 70° 04 232 / E 030° 05 822; this left a distance of 8.7 km to the point. The 6 HP engine of the 4m fishing boat, managed a running speed of 12 km per hour at full throttle. My course, staying at 230°, south-west, took me about 55 minutes. I had forgotten to take my gloves and my hands were getting cold. With every kilometer farther out into the Varangerfjord the waves were getting higher and I was getting sicker. Seasickness was getting hold of me!

After 4 attempts to hit the exact spot from the east, with a little tailwind, I reached it at 08.22 pm.
The boat was at this time moving so much in the waves that I didn’t dare stand up, so I took the pictures sitting down.

Going high speed, fighting against the wind, it took me more than an hour to get back.

The outborder pushed the boat a little laborious over the waves; the bow clashed into the waves, water splashed over the side in the boat. I think, I drove the boat to it’s maximum! I changed my direct-course back from 45° to 330°, to avoid getting more water into the boat. With every kilometer that I was getting closer to the shore the delicate stuation eased for me.

About 800 meters before I reached Ekkerøy the engine ran out of gas. No problem, I had extra gas on board! My original plan to finish this tour within one hour was very miscalculated. Current, winds and waves are forces of nature that can’t be easily judged from the shore. In the end it had taken 2.5 hours. I felt sick to my stomache and I hadn’t eaten much that day ( maybe that was a good thing ) and I was very hungry! So I went straight to Helge at his restaurant to treat myself to a fine dinner.

It is a cosily styled place with partly glassed -floor and a panorama window pane on the front where one can enjoy the sunset with a glass of red wine and a fine dinner, until midnight.

Time went by while I talked to Helge about everything that concers the Confluence project ( whenever he had time, of course ). A wonderful sunset at exactly midnight made this successful, adventurous day perfect.

I once again would like to thank Helge Skjønberg in Ekkerøy - 9800 Vadsø for letting me rent his boat and also the good food. A true insider-tip for people who like to enjoy a fine dinner after going fishing. His Havhesten restaurant was also my starting position.